Previews

Juiced

Cramming so many racing game attributes in one title is like putting 20 clowns in a VW Bug, but that's this game's aim.

Spiffy:

Customization is deep, but not tedious; licensed cars and damage together; competitive in both single and multiplayer.

Iffy:

AI racers can be cheap; cars sometimes go up in class by themselves; your car can be lost ... forever.

The lines have definitely become clear in the racing genre. You've got simulations like Gran Turismo and Forza, street-racing titles like Need For Speed Underground, and all-out arcade racers like Burnout 3. Juiced is blurring those lines in an attempt to combine all driving-game elements under one hood. It's got speed, customization, and carnage -- along with a risk factor to make sure you don't write a check your butt can't cash.

Had Acclaim not gone down in a flaming heap, Juiced would've released and been forgotten long ago. After THQ took over the title, some regulating went down, and the game is much better for it. So much has been redesigned from scratch, but it's better to concentrate on what is now rather than dwelling on what was then.

At first glance, Juiced looks like most neon-laden, spoiler-sporting, street-themed racers out there. However, it's got a depth to it that few racing titles can match. You start by getting a merciful cash gift from one of your rivals. This gets you set up with a hatchback-style vehicle, and some money to spruce it up as you see fit. From here, you enter events to earn both money and respect.

The events aren't all simple races, though there are plenty of those. You've got dragstrip challenges (manual transmission only) and showoff events that require some tricky driving (think donuts and 180s). Before many events, feel free to strike bets with your competition. Especially early on, there are times when you can't even compete, so gambling is a good way to make your trip worthwhile.

Money is put to good use, believe you me. The list of mods and accessories is so insane, I have no doubt the developers are being fitted with straightjackets as we speak. There's something like 7.5 trillion combinations you can outfit your vehicle with -- and no, I didn't just make that number up. Some are cosmetic, like new paint jobs, side skirts, spoilers, and rims. Others are more performance oriented, such as nitro boosters, new shocks, and a bump in horsepower.

You've got to be careful how you spend your cash, however. Cars are rated in classes. If you end up souping up your car so much that you enter the next class, be prepared for stiffer competition. I found it's best to strive to make the best class 8 (or whatever class) car you can, so you can be the superior driver. With AI that doesn't take much guff and has its own unique personalities, that's a tough title to hold on to.

Respect is a tricky thing. Your competitors admire a winner, but if you drive dirty, you'll make some quick enemies. You might think, "Ah, who cares? I don't need the approval of my peers. I'm a rebel, MAN!" Think again. To get invited to more events, you must gain respect from others. Rack up 100 points, and you can attend a crew's events. After 300, you can participate in them. Score 600, and you can go for pink slips to score new rides or find yourself walking home. After 1,000, they'll attend events that you personally host.